Core Viewpoint - A debate within Aave's DAO has emerged regarding control over the protocol's interface and the financial benefits derived from it, particularly following the integration of CoWSwap into the Aave platform [1][2]. Group 1: Integration and Financial Implications - Aave Labs integrated CoWSwap into the app.aave.com interface, replacing Paraswap, which was presented as an upgrade for user experience and improved execution [1][2]. - The integration has led to swap-related fees no longer contributing to the Aave DAO treasury, with fees now accruing to an external recipient, estimated at 15 to 25 basis points [2]. - On-chain data indicates that the partner-fee mechanism associated with CoWSwap could yield millions of dollars annually, although this surplus has decreased due to a shift in routing logic [3]. Group 2: Governance and Operational Structure - Aave Labs clarified that the interface operates independently from the DAO-governed protocol, with the DAO managing on-chain parameters while Aave Labs controls application-level features [4]. - The company argues that monetization applies only to accessory features, maintaining protocol neutrality and preventing centralization of economic control [5]. Group 3: Criticism and Concerns - Critics, including members from the Aave Chan Initiative, express concerns that monetization from the frontend was expected to benefit the DAO, given the contributions from tokenholders [6]. - There are claims that CoWSwap's solvers are increasingly utilizing free flash loans from other protocols, which diverts user flow and fees away from Aave, further impacting DAO revenue [7]. - Aave Labs responded by stating that the previous surplus from Paraswap was not a guaranteed entitlement and that alternative frontends remain available for the DAO to utilize [8].